Dear P-TECH Families,
Welcome to Issue 3 of the P-TECH IT Family Newsletter. This week we say thank you to the people who thanked you, confirm the new date and place for our Class Leader Conference, and look at the opportunities coming up. Then we get to the big one: the certification road ahead for your scholar, what it can be worth, and why this is the moment to step into P-TECH.
Quarter 1 ends October 30. If your scholar is stuck in a course, now is the time to reach out. We would much rather help in October than in December.
Great News First
Legislative Day: thank-you letters from the Board of Education
After our scholars helped host PGCPS's Annual Legislative Day on October 9, two letters of thanks reached our team this week. Aimee Olivo, Board of Education Member for District 4, wrote that she enjoyed chatting with our scholars and that the Board “heard nothing but praise for them from our numerous guests.” Ryan “Mac” McElroy, Community Liaison for the Board of Education, thanked every student and staff member who gave their time, and said the Board office “could not thank you… enough.”
Ms. Olivo also invited our team and scholars to join the district's legislative advocacy work this winter, including possible trips to Annapolis. Ms. King replied for all of us that Mr. James, our scholars, and she are more than willing. We will share details as they arrive.
To every family: thank you. Your scholars showed the district what early college and career readiness looks like.
Class Leader Conference: new date and place
For our Class Leaders and their families: Thursday, October 22, 2026, 6:30–8:00 PM at Fogo de Chão, 141 National Plaza, National Harbor (Oxon Hill), MD 20745. We are celebrating your learners. Class Leader families, please reply to the email you received with who will attend and your headcount, so we can confirm the reservation.
P-TECH Registration: What It Means
P-TECH applications for 8th graders are open September 23 – December 11, 2026, and the program is open-border: eligible students from anywhere in the district may apply. Here is what a P-TECH seat means at Largo.
- One diploma and one degree. Scholars graduate with a Largo High School diploma and work toward a Prince George's Community College Associate of Applied Science degree in one of five pathways: Networking, Cybersecurity, Database Management, Computer Science/Programming, and Systems Administration.
- Industry certifications built into the plan. The college courses are paired with the exams employers recognize (see the roadmap below).
- Work-based learning and support. P-TECH adds industry partner engagement, mentoring, site visits and internships that ramp up in 11th grade, and support to finish college coursework for up to two years after high school graduation.
Why now
A seat that starts in 9th grade gets the whole ladder. This year Mr. James teaches the 9th-grade Tech+ certification. Next year his classes move up to the 10th-grade level certifications, so the entry year looks different. If you know an 8th grader who loves technology, point the family to the PGCPS P-TECH page before December 11.
The Certification Roadmap: Up to Eight Credentials
If the pilot continues as planned, a scholar who starts in 9th grade can graduate holding six to eight industry certifications alongside the associate degree. Every certification lines up with a PGCC course, so the learning counts twice. No program has done this at this scale before. It is a pilot, and Mr. James will be with your scholar as much as he can along the way.
| Grade | Certification(s) | 2026–27 | 2027–28 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9th | CompTIA Tech+; Certiport IT Specialist: Computational Thinking | Class of 2030 | Class of 2031 |
| 10th | Certiport IT Specialist: Device Configuration & Management; Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate | Class of 2029 | Class of 2030 |
| 11th | CompTIA A+ (Core 1 and 2), Network+, Security+ | Class of 2028 | Class of 2029 |
| 12th | CompTIA Project+ (capstone), plus track exam prep such as CEH (Cybersecurity) or CCNA (Networking) | Class of 2027 | Class of 2028 |
This is the plan by grade level. Exact exam dates are confirmed by your scholar's facilitator, and we recommend, but cannot guarantee, a pass. The PGCC course is always the official record. Next year, the Class of 2030 moves up to the 10th-grade certifications and the Class of 2028 reaches the senior capstone.
What These Certifications Can Be Worth
Pay depends on the employer, location and experience, and no one can promise a salary. These are published industry figures, not guarantees. They show what the market pays for the skills your scholar will be building, especially when a certification is paired with an associate degree.
| Credential or role | What industry data shows |
|---|---|
| A+ | Entry-level (0–1 year) help desk and support roles typically pay about $40,000–$50,000; one Glassdoor-based average is about $56,800 (Infosec Institute). |
| Network+ | Network technician roles are reported at roughly $69,000–$82,000 (Salary.com via Infosec Institute). The U.S. median for computer network support specialists is $76,220 (BLS, May 2025). |
| Security+ | Entry-level security positions are reported to start around $70,000 (Infosec Institute). |
| Computer support specialists | BLS median pay is $62,890 (May 2025). Network support roles typically ask for an associate degree, or a high school diploma plus certifications. |
| Information security analysts | BLS median pay is $129,180 (May 2025), with 21% job growth projected for 2025–2035. A bachelor's degree is typical, and the associate degree plus certifications is a strong first step toward it. |
The honest picture: entry support roles are projected to be flat, while security is growing fast. A scholar with an associate degree, several certifications and real project experience stands out from applicants with none of them, and has a head start on a bachelor's degree. Tech+, the IT Specialist exams and Excel are foundation credentials that build the skills behind these higher-paying ones.
How You Can Help at Home
Please encourage your scholar to sit for the certifications that line up with their PGCC courses. Ask them each week: what module are you on, and when is your next exam? When the course and the certification move together, your scholar graduates workforce ready, with a diploma, a degree and credentials in hand. They have the ability to do this. We will be right there with them.
Opportunities for Your Scholar
- PGCAC scholarships (Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Prince George's County Alumnae Chapter) — deadline January 8, 2027. The Prince George's Community College Scholarship is for graduating seniors (or current PGCC students) who are county residents and U.S. citizens, have a 2.5 GPA or higher, and will attend PGCC in Fall 2027. The Technical Trade Scholarship is for students pursuing certifications in a vocational or trade sector. Apply at pgcacdst.org/scholarship-application.
- NASA CTE Day at Goddard Space Flight Center — Wednesday, December 9, 9:00 AM–1:30 PM, Greenbelt. Free. Schools apply (15–30 students, in person or virtual) with a principal's letter of support and provide their own transportation. Ms. King has shared it with our facilitators; watch for an update.
- Gwynn Park Middle School Virtual High School Options Night — Tuesday, October 27, 6:00–7:30 PM. A chance for 8th-grade families to learn about high school programs.
- Full Sail University workshop — Fri, Oct 23, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM at Largo: careers in technology, game design and creative fields.
- Congressional App Challenge — due Oct 26. congressionalappchallenge.us
- Girls Who Code Spring Pathways — priority deadline Oct 28. Free and virtual; no coding experience needed.
- NSA Codebreaker Challenge — through January. nsa-codebreaker.org
Senior and Upperclass Corner
- Spring 2027 registration at PGCC: advance registration for returning students opens Monday, October 26, and opens for all students Monday, November 2. Please plan spring courses with our team before registering.
- PGCC Spring Transfer & Resource Fair: Wednesday, February 10, 2027, at PGCC's Largo Campus. Student registration opens November 9, 2026.
- College classes come first. Upperclassmen attend scheduled PGCC classes even when PGCPS is closed for students, unless PGCC is also closed.
Mark Your Calendar
P-TECH scholars follow two calendars, Largo (PGCPS) and PGCC. We note which campus is affected.
| Date | What it means for your scholar |
|---|---|
| Thu, Oct 22 | P-TECH Class Leader Conference, 6:30–8:00 PM, Fogo de Chão, National Harbor. Class Leader families only; please reply with your headcount. |
| Fri, Oct 23 | Full Sail University workshop at Largo, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM. |
| Mon, Oct 26 | PGCC advance registration for Spring 2027 opens for returning students. Congressional App Challenge due. |
| Tue, Oct 27 | Gwynn Park Middle School Virtual High School Options Night, 6:00–7:30 PM. |
| Fri, Oct 30 | End of Quarter 1. PGCPS early dismissal. |
| Mon, Nov 2 | PGCC Spring 2027 registration opens for all students. |
| Tue, Nov 3 | PGCPS schools and offices closed (Election Day). PGCC open. |
| Mon, Nov 9 | Student registration opens for the PGCC Spring Transfer & Resource Fair. |
| Wed, Nov 11 | PGCPS closed for students. Parent-Teacher Conferences — please plan to meet with us. PGCC open. |
| Tue, Nov 24 | Last day of PGCC Term 1 (15-week) and Term 4 (7-week) classes. |
| Nov 25–29 | PGCPS closed Nov 25–27 (Thanksgiving Break). PGCC: no classes Nov 25; college closed Nov 26–29. |
| Dec 1–7 | PGCC final exams for Term 1. |
| Wed, Dec 9 | NASA CTE Day at Goddard Space Flight Center (school application required). |
| Fri, Dec 11 | P-TECH application window closes for 8th graders. |
| Fri, Jan 8 | PGCAC scholarship applications due. |
Every Week in P-TECH IT
- Weekly Grade Drop: Thursday by 2:00 PM. Every scholar uploads their Canvas grade PDF for each PGCC course by 2:00 PM every Thursday, so everyone knows where they stand by Friday morning. Please remind your scholar.
- After-school learning hours: Tuesday–Thursday, 2:30–6:30 PM (never Monday or Friday) with Mr. James (Room 105) or Mr. Buma (Room 102).
- Study companions and course sites: every course in one place at ptechlargo.com/courses.
- Check Canvas together weekly. Reach out early if your scholar is struggling.
Your P-TECH IT Team
Coordinator, P-TECH IT at Largo High School
tomisha.king@pgcps.org
(301) 808-8880
Thank you for everything you do to help your scholar show up ready. This pilot has not been done before, and with your help these scholars can do it. Reply any time; we read every message.
In pride and excellence,
Mr. Carlton A. James
P-TECH Facilitator
[0] 301-808-8880 Ext.84130
carlton.james@pgcps.org
Students · Issue 3The Cipher Hunt
Loading…Read the whole issue, then crack three challenges. Every point you score counts for your class on the Hunt standings. One entry per student, worth up to 14 points.